An Online Magazine Dedicated to Awareness, Acceptance and Awesomeness Presented by We Rock for Autism
Sept 2015 Issue #13
Joe Normal...LEFTY LOUIE, RIGHTY WRONGY 80s in the Park, Autographed Guitar Goes to Online Auction for Autism Presented by
Advancements in Autism Screening Au South Florida Piano Player Gets Attention of Taylor Swift
September 2015 Issue
Editor: Chris Wilson Proofreader and Content Editor: Justin Wilson, Jr. Subscribe for FREE today! www.TheMonthlyMelody.com/subscibe ___________________________________________________________________________________________ The Monthly Melody is a Publication of We Rock for Autism, Inc. a Nonprofit Organization. PO BOX 25884, Pembroke Pines, FL 33024 – support@werockforautism.org www.themonthlymelody.com – www.werockforautism.org ___________________________________________________________________________________________ The Monthly Melody and We Rock for Autism, Inc. does not endorse the views, products, or services contained herein. We are not responsible for omissions or errors. The Monthly Melody and We Rock for Autism, Inc. are not responsible for articles submitted to us without the final approval of the organization’s President. All articles and Advertisements are subject to final approval by our Board. We reserve the right to edit any article sent to us. Letters to The Editor should be sent to support@werockforautism.org We do not publish open letters or third-party letters. Letters for publication must include the writer’s address and phone numbers. We cannot return or acknowledge unpublished letters. Writers of those letters selected for publication will be notified prior to press date. Letters may be shortened for space requirements. . Copyright © 2015 We Rock for Autism, Inc. All rights reserved. Content contained in this publication may be reproduced for onetime personal use. However, anyone wishing to reproduce and distribute any content from within this publication for purposes other than personal use must request this intention in writing directly to the publisher. Failure to do so will be in violation of the copyright held by this publication.
STATEMENT OF POLICY AND DISCLAIMER The views expressed in any articles or advertisements included in this publication are not necessarily those of The Monthly Melody or the publishers We Rock for Autism, Inc. The Monthly Melody, We Rock for Autism, Inc. and the publishers do not promote or recommend any specific therapy, treatment, institution or professional viewpoint. Please check with a doctor when changing any diet or major nutritional change.
WE ROCK FOR AUTISM HAS 80S IN THE PARK ROCK BANDS SIGN GUITAR, AND HOLDS ONLINE AUCTION TO RAISE MONEY FOR AUTISM AWARENESS
We also met so many cool people at our booth, people whose lives have been touched by autism. They were there to have a good time, but stopped to talk about things, get some We Rock for Autism promotional items, and even donate to help out.” The guitar is up for auction on eBay now and 100% of proceeds are going to We Rock for Autism.
With some of the biggest bands out of the 80’s scheduled to perform over the four day event, We Rock for Autism showed up with guitar in hand and ready to meet the bands and collect some signatures. This is the second year that We Rock for Autism was chosen as the official charity of 80’s in the Park. We Rock for Autism, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is based in South Florida. The primary focus of We Rock for Autism is promoting autism awareness and acceptance, as well as assisting children with in autism receive music therapy. This year We Rock for Autism will also be launching their new Autism Idol campaign. They will give young adults that have autism and play music or sing the opportunity to record a track in a professional studio and then compile those tracks for a compilation release next year. The silver Fender Squire spent 4 days being passed from one band to another. The Backstage Divas took possession of the guitar and helped it make its rounds, gathering signatures and snapping some pics along the way. Mark Slaughter, Steve Whiteman, Brian "Damage" Forsythe and Ronnie Younkins of KIX, Simon Daniels, Steve Lynch and Randy Rand of Autograph, Brandon Gibbs of Devil City Angels, Phil Lewis and Kenny Kweens from L.A. Guns as well as, Michael Aston and Switch of Gene Loves Jezebel, some members of Nova Rex and more signed this guitar all in the name of helping children with autism. “To see the support the bands were willing to provide was amazing,” said President of We Rock for Autism, Chris Wilson. “They were all happy to help and share stories of family members or friends that have been directly affected by autism.
(Mark Slaughter signing the guitar)
More pics available on the eBay listing!
The guitar will be available for bids until Tuesday morning, September 8th, 2015. Check it out and bid on it here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Autism-CharityAutographed-Guitar-Slaughter-Kix-Bullet-Boys-LA-GunsAutograph-/331643285078?hash=item4d377aee56
We Rock for Autism is dedicated to promoting the awareness and acceptance of autism. Through various events and fundraisers we strive to raise funds to help children with autism attend music and art therapy session. If you would like to learn more about We Rock for Autism or keep up with upcoming events and the latest news, check out our website at www.WeRockforAutism.org or connect with us on our social media pages.
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Bustin 4 Autism in a non profit organization that helps children attend special needs camps and fun, socially stimulating activities.
To Donate or be a Sponsor visit our website www.Bustin4Autism.com or email us Bustin4Autism@gmail.com
Do you love cheerleading? Do you want your child to participate in a group sport? Do you want your child so socialize with other athletes? We are looking for new teammates (we are a coed team) to join our fabulous program. We meet once a week ( Saturdays from 10:30 am-12:00pm) and we compete 5-6 times a year against other exceptional athletes. One time Registration fee of $100.00. (payment plans available) Please contact Melissa at 954-254-3673 for details. Registration for our ongoing season will begin April 25, 2015 We are located at 5 Star Athletics 1520 NW 66th Avenue Plantation, FL 33313 Cheer Exceptional Athletes INC is a non-profit organization located in Plantation, Fl. We work with young women and men with diagnosed disabilities such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome, and ADHD. Our Mission is to help children with special needs increase physical, emotional and social progress through participation in the team sport of competitive cheerleading.
6th Annual Golf Tournament Saturday, October 3, 2015 (This tournament is put together to help sponsor children with disabilities who participate in competitive cheerleading)
Oriole Country Club, Margate 954-972-8140 4 person Scramble $75.00 per player CLOSEST TO PIN * PUTTING CONTEST* SILENT AUCTION * RAFFLES * AWARDS Lunch and Dinner included in entry fee 1:30PM Shotgun Start (check-in: 12:00 – 12:30) 12:30 Putting Contest
*This tournament will be sold out (144 players)* For further Tournament or Sponsorship information: Alex Perrialex154@aol.comor call 954-818-8217 Melissa Jablonski Melissa@customcheermix.com or call 954-254-3673
7-Year-Old With Autism Wows Taylor Swift With '1989' Piano Medley The singer invited the little pianist to one of her shows.
"I’m your biggest fan. I hope you can sign this for me one day," he said as he held up a deluxe version of Swift’s "1989" album. "I hope we can jam and I created something for you and it goes a little something like this." It looks like Jacob might be getting that autograph pretty soon. After his video made its way to Swift, she sent out a tweet praising Jacob for his "beautiful piano medley" and invited him to one of her shows. He quickly tweeted his excitement.
Another fan has managed to catch Taylor Swift’s eye, thanks to his amazing piano skills.
Jacob and Taylor together? Now that’s one jam session we’d love to see.
Seven-year-old Jacob Velazquez showed his appreciation for the "Shake It Off" singer in a YouTube video with a piano medley of songs from her "1989" album. In a guest post on Autism Speaks, his mother, Tina Velazquez, explained that her son was diagnosed with autism when he was 4 years old and is a big fan of Taylor Swift.
Check out Jacob’s videos here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClG4mGo8jrk Y2wMVN1n-Eyw
"I sometimes sit with him at the piano and call out track numbers from her most recent album," she wrote. "Jacob will play the song that corresponds, without ever being taught the music notes." The little pianist kicked off his medley with "Bad Blood" and made his way through other songs like "I Wish You Would" and "Blank Space." He even added an adorable introduction addressed to the singer.
Source: HuffingtonPost.com
Joe N O R M A L
LEFTY-LOUIE, RIGHTY-WRONGY Around the age of three, Drayke discovered his passion for painting. Although his work was much closer to Jackson Pollock than Rembrandt, nonetheless he was content to while away his time on the floor of the kitchen dripping and smearing an array of colorful paints onto sheets of card stock. Interestingly, he always knew when each painting was finished, and as an artist myself, I marveled at how a great deal of his “masterpieces” possessed balance and a sense of composition that was eerily consistent for a three year old… Was this coincidental? Was I just a starry-eyed dad, wanting to believe there was a genius at work here… and this genius so happened to be my son?! I would tape sheets of acid-free art paper to the linoleum tile floor in a circle while Drayke sat in the center, going from piece to piece, dabbing and dripping, layering and smearing, motioning me when he was done with each canvas, indicating that he was ready for another, and another, leaving behind his finished work to dry without making any changes or additions, confident he had done his best.
His left hand eloquently working its magical spell, anointing each sheet with a uniquely expressive creation as his focused eye peered knowingly through the lens of his oval wire framed Joey Ramone style glasses. When he’d exhausted his desire to constructively create, his sessions would inevitably culminate, (or de-construct) in a messy, kaleidoscopic mish-mash of fist squeezing, hand-soaked,paint smearing, wall-wiping sensory behavior, like someone set the Keith Moon of The Canvas free in our house, kicking over his paint cans and throwing his brushes into the crowd at the end of the show! In those early days, Drayke was using his left hand for painting, and for reaching. He had a history of hypotonia, and in the next year or so we’d watch him begin the struggle to hold a pencil in either hand. (He still has trouble writing, buttoning and zippering at the age of 13.) After he received the Autism diagnosis, he was eligible to receive physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech services, among other support. The very first thing the school service provider did when they saw Drayke straining to hold his pencil in his left hand, was to switch it to his right hand. That seemed to go against his nature. I am convinced that Drayke was born a lefty. His maternal Grandfather is a lefty. His Aunty Rita was a lefty. I too, picked up the guitar lefty months before switching it around when I saw a photo of my favorite Beatle, John Lennon, who played righty. Drayke’s left was the hand he held his brush in and finger painted with in those days on the kitchen floor, and it is still the hand he extends when shaking hands with people, reaching for his tablet, or wiping his arse.
Drayke Hutchinson age 3 ½
The truth is, at 3 ½ years old he was using different hands for different tasks, but his right hand was equally as weak and cumbersome as his left at that time. The “professionals” felt they should focus on one hand, and convinced us to choose his North paw. If there is ever one thing I wish I had done for Drayke, it is to have defended his right as a lefty (pun intended), to stand up to the school instructors and advise them to allow my son the dignity to be who he is by using his preferred hand to learn to write, and to allow him to do it in his own time. I’ve got my suspicions that this move may have created more confusion amongst the development or wiring of his brain and in his ability to learn and process what and how he experiences things in his environment and in the world in general. I’m no spokesperson or expert on the topics of neurology, handedness, or pediatrics… I’m just a Dad who should have trusted his gut and made the right decision (or left decision) for my child. Next time we meet with the school district I’ll try hard not to make any left-handed compliments…
JOE NORMAL Recording Artist, Songwriter, Author, Educator (and, oh yeah… Autism Parent.) Site: www.JoeNormalUSA.com Twitter: www.Twitter.com/JoeNormalUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/JoeNormalUSA
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New Autism Recommendation Sparks Debate
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said there’s insufficient evidence to recommend either for or against so-called universal screening, and that doctors should use their own judgment until more research is in. While early treatment is promising for the more severely affected, that hasn’t been studied in children who have mild symptoms that may be caught only in screening, said task force vice chairman and pediatrician Dr. David Grossman. Other questions include what age to screen, and what tool to use. “We’re not saying it’s the wrong thing. We’re just saying we’re not sure,” Grossman said.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A government task force says more research is needed to determine if toddlers should be screened for autism even if check-ups or parents haven’t spotted developmental problems — despite guidelines from other health groups that urge such screening. Doctors are supposed to routinely check if youngsters are meeting appropriate milestones or show signs of developmental disorders including autism. And specialists say parents should immediately point out any concerns, such as whether a child doesn’t make eye contact, so they can receive appropriate diagnostic testing. Monday’s draft recommendation addresses another step, whether doctors also should use parent questionnaires and similar tools to screen for autism in children under 3 who have no obvious symptoms.
The American Academy of Pediatrics said the recommendation runs counter to its own guideline that all children be screened at ages 18 months and 24 months, in addition to standard developmental checks. Other health groups also support screening.
“You identify the kids early, you get them to treatment early, and the outcome is better,” said Dr. Susan E. Levy of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and AAP’s autism subcommittee. The task force’s draft recommendation is open for public comment for 30 days. Source: Yahoo.com
New Breakthrough in What Causes Autism
discovered that an autism-linked gene mutation disrupts the on/off switch that controls the enzyme. As a result, the enzyme is constantly on. In the body, the role of the enzyme UBE3A is to tag other proteins for destruction. “It’s sort of like if you have garbage and you want to get rid of it, you can tag it with a flag for somebody to pick it up and throw it out. That’s essentially what UBE3A does,” Zylka says. The mutation causes the enzyme to tag normal proteins nonstop, which is presumably what leads to autism pathology.
Autism is caused by about 1,000 gene mutations. In a key discovery, scientists recently learned how one of them actually causes autism. (Corbis/Flame)
Scientists are now one step closer to understanding how genetic mutations contribute to autism. In a study released Thursday in the journal Cell, experts from UNC School of Medicine discovered how one specific autism-linked gene mutation actually works. This is the first time scientists have observed how a common type of mutation, known as a missense mutation, could contribute to autism. “There’s a revolution that’s taking place in the area of autism genetics right now,” says study author Mark Zylka, PhD, associate professor at UNC School of Medicine. Thanks to recent advances in technology, it’s now possible to sequence human genomes relatively inexpensively. “From these sequencing studies, thousands of mutations have been turning up in hundreds of genes, and this mutation is one of those mutations,” Zylka tells Yahoo Health. Specifically, the new finding relates to an enzyme known as UBE3A. Normally, the enzyme is tightly regulated. But Zylka’s team
To test their hypothesis that the mutation contributes to autism, the researchers introduced the gene mutation into the brains of mice. The results: Compared to controls, the genetically altered mice showed the same type of brain changes seen in individuals with autism. “Not only was this hyperactivating mutation identified in individuals with autism, when put into a mouse model, it gave a brain pathology that looked like autism,” Zylka says. It’s important to note that this finding is only one piece of a larger puzzle. Researchers have identified about 1,000 genes related to autism, each of which may play a part in the disorder, which affects 1 in 68 children in the U.S. Part of the reason the genetics of the disorder are so complex, Zylka explains, is that autism itself is complex. “Sometimes we abbreviate it as ‘someone has autism,’ but clinically, it’s known as autism spectrum disorder. No two kids look completely alike,” Zylka says. “And that probably relates to the fact that there are literally going to be hundreds of different genes that can get you the core symptoms, and when you hit certain genes you’ll get some of the associated symptoms.” Source: Yahoo Health
Researchers develop screening test for rapid diagnosis of autism in toddlers
even lost their diagnosis of autism because of the progress they make with services, she added. “It’s tremendous for autism spectrum disorder,” Choueiri told FoxNews.com. “We really need to encourage, educate and push for ways we can recognize early autism signs and get toddlers to diagnoses and [therefore] access to services. We see it, clinically, every day— children improve tremendously.” Early signs of autism can be very subtle and difficult to recognize. For first-time parents or parents of another culture, being unaware of developmental milestones or having different cultural expectations about child development can hinder recognition.
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School have created a new screening test to improve the diagnosis of autism in toddlers, a development that could lead to earlier detection and intervention. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 68 children has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The developmental disability can cause social, communication and behavioral challenges for patients. There is no medical test for diagnosis, but signs begin during early childhood. Intervention services for young children can help them learn to talk, walk, and interact with others. Recognizing the early signs of autism is important because a diagnosed toddler is then eligible for intensive services that have been proven to improve outcomes, said Dr. RoulaChoueiri, chief of division of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at UMass Medical School. Toddlers are able to communicate better, integrate better in school, improve their social and play skills. Some have
“It’s very hard to put the onus on parents to bring up their concerns to the pediatrician or family practice physician,” Choueiri said. “This is why we recommend doing regular screenings. There are developmental screenings pediatricians can do with parents to try to illicit if this child is where he or she should be, development-wise.” The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children be screened specifically for ASD during regular well-child doctor visits at 18 months and 24 months. At this time, early signs include: the child does not always make eye contact, has a delay in language, does not answer consistently to his or her name, and is not interested in playing with other children. “It’s very difficult to pick up concerns,” Choueiri said. “Universal screening is important because it does help one to build the conversation.” While the level 1 universal screening does pick up on developmental delays, it tends produce a high number of false-positive results for ASD, Choueiri said.
Toddlers who have a positive level 1 test or who exhibit possible symptoms of ASD are referred to diagnosticians, but the high number of referrals and lack of specialists mean long wait lists. For children who do have ASD, they lose precious time to start services because of this lag, Choueiri said. The UMASS team’s test, Rapid Intervention Screening Test for Autism in Toddlers (RITA-T), would serve as a level 2 test to identify toddlers who have a real ASD risk. The level 2 test currently in use, Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers & Young Children (STAT), meant for children between 24 and 36 months of age, takes 20 minutes to administer, is complex to learn, and tends to better identify the severe forms of ASD than the minor forms, Chouieri said. The STAT test assesses imitation, play, requesting and directing attention. According to the UMass team, RITA-T is easy to train clinicians to use, takes 10 minutes to administer and score and is interactive and play-based to try to illicit and measure specific skills. In research published in the August issue of The Journal of Pediatrics, the team studied a group of 61 toddlers between 18 and 36 months old. Half of the group had no developmental concerns, while the other half had been referred because of concerns about either developmental delays or ASD. They found that RITA-T correctly predicted 88 percent of ASD in the high-risk group. The test uses nine activities to observe a child’s reaction in areas known to represent early signs of ASD: joint attention, social awareness, reaction to emotions, awareness of human agency and some fundamental cognitive skills. For example, to study joint attention, a child is given a toy, then it is taken away by an adult. A typically developing child will look at the adult, look at the object, then look back at the adult to observe the adult’s reaction. A child at risk
for ASD will look at the object, rather than the adult.
Moving forward, the team is working to develop different models for faster diagnoses, such as integrating the level 1 and 2 tests so that a child’s pediatrician does both, rather than waiting for a specialist for the second test. “We really want to have a model where we’re using more efficient screenings so we can get kids in early and can get them in faster,” Choueiri said. Researchers hope that RITA-T can lead to earlier access to services for toddlers with ASD “Once they start to get treatment, I’ve seen children make progress very quickly at this age, under 3,” Choueiri said. “Ages zero to three are so important and we can still change the course of the disorder.” Source: foxnews.com
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